Florida Panthers backers might be in disbelief, ready to grab a sudden opportunity, after seeing the Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs betting line for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
It’s no surprise that the Panthers, up 2-0 in their best-of-seven series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, became a prohibitive series favorite at -320, while Toronto was +250 (both DraftKings) when the weekend began.
But as we look at Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 odds and predictions, they reveal a tilt toward Toronto to earn Sunday’s game in Sunrise, Fla.
For Panthers bettors, this constitutes value.
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Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 Odds
Right after Thursday’s game, FanDuel put the Panthers at +108 on the moneyline and had Toronto at -130.
DraftKings placed Florida at +105 and Toronto at -125.
The Over-Under is 6.5 with the Over at -125 and the Under at +105.
Panthers backers, at least in the early betting stages, are still able to get a good price on a team that just delivered two significant road triumphs.
They can still get value on a team that comes home for two games, already halfway to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The price comes from the apparent belief that Toronto is going to turn up the heat and get rolling.
For Leafs backers, that won’t be soon enough.
The way the Leafs lost Game 2, surrendering a 2-0 lead five minutes into the game, does not bode well for them. Toronto did not score in the last 55 minutes of the game, even as Scotiabank Arena rocked from the early start and dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker.
Here are current Panthers-Leafs Game 3 betting lines from the best sports betting apps in the market.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 and Series Betting Overview
Here are the updated numbers on the exact series score, with the Panthers now in a commanding position:
Florida 4-0 (+280)
Florida 4-1 (+350)
Florida 4-2 (+370)
Florida 4-3 (+700
Toronto 4-2 (+900)
Toronto 4-3 (+450)
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Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 Betting News
Maple Leafs
If they weren’t going to win Game 2, when the planets were aligned, how will they break through?
The Leafs had a 2-0 lead five minutes into the game and could not turn that momentum into a victory.
The Leafs won 37 faceoffs, compared to 17 for the Panthers.
What deflated them were the two early second-period goals yielded by goaltender Ilya Samsonov. He has been able to make a few hard saves but does not convey the impression that the Leafs can ride him the way Florida is riding Sergei Bobrovsky. He has also been hurt by momentary lapses by his defensemen, leaving him helpless on some of the goals.
Add an intangible to that. If the Leafs feel like they can’t penetrate Bobrovsky, will that make them press?
Panthers
That’s five, count ’em, five, straight playoff victories for the Panthers — a franchise record. The wins have come against two teams that combined for 246 points via 115 victories in the Boston Bruins (65) and Toronto (50).
The Panthers had 92 points versus a league-record 135 for Boston, a whopping 43-point differential.
The Panthers’ surge may look like a shock but take a look back. They went 6-1-1 down the stretch, earning 13 of a possible 16 points to gain the final playoff spot by one point over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Their playoff confidence may come from the ability to overcome early deficits. They trailed in four of the five games in this streak and three times in the third period. But they stormed back.
Sergei Bobrovsky continues to be the top goalie stepping up in this postseason. He made 35 saves on 37 shots and kept the Panthers in Game 2 with some timely saves when they trailed 2-0 early in the first period.
The Panthers are playing with a swagger. They out-hustled the Leafs down low for their three goals in Game 2, scoring two within one minute of each other in the second period.
They then put a vice-grip lock on the lead.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 Betting Data
The Panthers have won six games in a row against a team entering off a loss.
Florida has won the first period in four of its last five games. And when it didn’t, which was Game 2 of this series, it didn’t matter. The Panthers scored two quick second-period goals to take control.
Each of Toronto’s last four games has gone Under the total.
The Leafs have been held to two goals exactly in each of their last three games.
Toronto’s last two road games became overtime victories in Tampa Bay, including the 2-1 clincher in the first series.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 2 Winners
As forecast here, the power play was a good place for bettors to make money on the Leafs at DraftKings.
They notched a power-play goal and Auston Matthews returned +140.
Ryan O’Reilly, who scored it, paid out +260 DraftKings.
At FanDuel, the score within the first 10 minutes was an easy triumph at -172 for those willing to lay the juice.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3 Prediction
You can see the sentiment that the Leafs are due — and they are. It is now or never.
But this looks like a Florida tsunami. The Panthers now expect to find ways to win and suddenly South Florida loves its team.
Florida ML.
How to Watch Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 3
Game Date: Sunday, May 7, 2023
Game Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: FLA Live Arena — Sunrise, Florida
Channel: TBS
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